U.S. blocks Peru's largest airline from American air space, citing safety

[Judi Lynn]

U.S. blocks Peru's largest airline from American air space, citing safety


By RICK VECCHIO
The Associated Press
4/22/04 9:40 PM


LIMA, Peru (AP) -- U.S. authorities have prohibited Peru's largest airline, Aero Continente, from flying to the United States because of safety concerns, U.S. officials said Thursday.

U.S. Embassy spokesman Michael Stanton said Aero Continente, which flies four times a week to Miami, lost permission to enter U.S. air space following an inspection last week by Federal Aviation Administration officials.

Stanton said the FAA sent a letter Thursday to Aero Continente's operations director, Victor Jaime Manrique, saying discussions between the FAA and Peru's Civil Aviation Authority "resulted in a common understanding of the significant safety issues."

FAA spokesman Christopher White said as of Thursday morning, Aero Continente "cannot operate into the U.S.," but he referred further questions to Peruvian aviation authorities.
(snip/...)

~~~~ link ~~~~